Two U.S. veterans who volunteered to combat in Ukraine have gone lacking, their households mentioned on Wednesday.
One man was named Alex Drueke, 39, a former U.S. Army employees sergeant who served two excursions in Iraq, his household mentioned in an announcement. The different was named Andy Tai Ngoc Huynh, 27, a former Marine, Darla Black, the mom of Mr. Huynh’s fiancée, Joy Black, mentioned in a telephone interview.
The U.S. State Department mentioned on Wednesday that it was “aware of unconfirmed reports of two U.S. citizens captured in Ukraine.”
“We are closely monitoring the situation and are in contact with Ukrainian authorities,” a State Department spokesperson mentioned. “Due to privacy considerations, we have no further comment.”
It was not confirmed however appeared most probably that Mr. Drueke and Mr. Huynh had disappeared collectively. Mr. Drueke’s household mentioned that on the time he was with “another volunteer soldier from the U.S.,” and Ms. Black mentioned that the 2 males had grow to be mates throughout the battle.
Mr. Drueke’s platoon got here beneath “heavy fire” on June 9, main all its members to fall again — apart from Mr. Drueke and the opposite U.S. volunteer, based on his household’s assertion. Reconnaissance by foot and drone didn’t flip up any signal of the 2 troopers, the assertion continued.
Mr. Drueke and his mom, Bunny Drueke, in March.Credit…Via Bunny Drueke
“This could mean they are in hiding or it could mean they have been captured,” mentioned Mr. Drueke’s mom, Bunny Drueke.
The two males, if captured, can be the primary Americans recognized to have grow to be prisoners of battle throughout the battle.
The Drueke household was notified of the skirmish and the seek for the 2 lacking Americans by one other member of the platoon on Monday, the household’s assertion mentioned.
“When Russia invaded Ukraine, Alex immediately told me he wanted to go use his skills to train Ukrainians in how to operate American weaponry,” mentioned Mrs. Drueke. “He isn’t married, he doesn’t have kids, and he has the training and the experience. He felt it was his duty to help defend democracy, wherever needed.”
The assertion described Mr. Drueke as an avid hiker who earlier than the battle had been dwelling on household land in rural western Alabama whereas hoping to plan “a new adventure” together with his Mastiff rescue, Diesel.
In an interview with WAAY-TV, an ABC affiliate in northern Alabama, Mr. Huynh, who was recognized as dwelling in a small metropolis within the area, Hartselle, and being from Orange County, Calif., mentioned that he had determined to journey to Ukraine and combat after seeing 18-year-olds preventing for his or her freedom.
“I know there’s a potential of me dying,” he mentioned. “I’m willing to give my life for what I believe is right.”
Before going to Ukraine, Mr. Huynh studied robotics at an area school that Joy additionally attended, Ms. Black mentioned. He had been within the Marines for 4 years, coming into proper after graduating from highschool.
“Andy didn’t make the easy choice, he made the right choice,” Joy mentioned by sobs in a telephone interview. “Andy did not go there for an adventure. He just wanted to help.”
Mr. Huynh and his fiancée, Joy Black.Credit…by way of Darla Black
Both the Black and Drueke households mentioned that they had final heard from the lads on June 8, when every mentioned they’d be out of attain for a number of days.
“Alex’s family has become our family,” Ms. Black mentioned. “If there is anyone who understands how my daughter feels right now, it’s Alex’s mother, so we all feel connected.”
An Alabama congressional delegation — together with Senators Richard Shelby and Tommy Tuberville, in addition to Representatives Terri Sewell and Robert Aderholt, who signify the lads’s districts — is coordinating with the State Department, Ms. Sewell’s chief of employees, Hilary Beard, mentioned. A spokesperson for Gov. Kay Ivey added that the delegation was additionally working with the F.B.I.
Since the battle started on Feb. 24, an unknown variety of foreigners have volunteered to assist Ukraine in numerous methods, amongst them tons of of American army veterans who’ve sought to hitch fight. The State Department reiterated in its assertion that U.S. residents mustn’t journey to Ukraine.
There have been no confirmed experiences of Americans being captured, and just one American has been reported useless: Willy Joseph Cancel Jr., 22, a former Marine infantryman from Kentucky who was killed on April 24 or 25 when his unit was overrun by Russian troops, Mr. Cancel’s uncle, Christopher Cancel, mentioned in an interview with The New York Times.
Western governments and human rights teams have been rattled final week when a court docket in Russia-occupied jap Ukraine sentenced two Britons and a Moroccan man to demise, accusing them of being mercenaries.
Dave Philipps contributed reporting.